Seeding-machine.



No. 730,908. PA TENTED JUNE 16, 1 903. G. N. E. GRAY.

SEEDING MACHINE.

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No. 730,908. PATENTED TUNE IG, 1903.

\ G. N. E. GRAY.

SBEDING MACHINE. APPLICATION rI'Lnn DBO. 5. 1902. no MODEL. s slums-sum 2.

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PATENTED JUNE'IG, 1903.

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No. 730,908. Patented June 16, 1903.

UNITED STATES, PATENT Orrrcn.

CHRISTIAN N. E. GRAY, OF DECATUR, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND CHAMBERS, BERING QUINLAN COMPANY, OF DECATUR, ILLINOIS, A COR- PORATION .OF ILLINOIS.

SEEDlNG-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION xorming part of Letters Patent No. 730,908, dated June 16, 1903.

Application filed December 5, 1902. Serial No. 134,020. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: which the seed is carried, a distributing-fan Be it known that I, CHRISTIAN N. E. GRAY, beneath the hopper and arranged to be roa citizen of the United States, residing at rated in a horizontal plane for distributing Decatur, in the county of Macon and State the seed which it receives from the hopper,

.5 of Illinois, have invented certain new and feed mechanism for supplying seed from the useful Improvements in Seeding-Machines, hopper to the distributing-fan, and mechanof which the following is a specification, refism for rotatingthe fan from one of the wheels erence being had to the accompanying drawof the wagon. My present improvements ings. have to do with the feeding devices by which 10 My invention relates to seeding-machines, the seed is delivered from the hopper to the and particularly to machines commonly distributing-fan; also with the driving deknown as broadcast seeders. It has for its vices by which the distributing-fan is rotated, objects to provide certain improvements in and withthe connecting mechanism by which the feeding devices by which seed is supplied the working parts of the seeder are connected I 5 to the distributing-fan, so that the feed may with one of the wagon-wheels. be more accurately regulated, and to provide Referring to the drawings, in which I have certain improvements in the driving devices illustrated the best embodiment of myinvenby which the fan is rotated; also to provide tion, 10 indicates the wagon-bed, of which 11 certain other improvements in the construcis the end-gate, 12 the axle, and 13 one of the 20 tion of machines of this class. I accomplish wheels, as shown in Fig. 1. In the constructhese objects asillustrated in the drawings tion shown the hub 14 of the wheel 13 carries and as hereinafter described. a sprocket-wheel 15, which is connected by a NVhat I regard as new is set forth in the link-belt 16 with a pinion 17, mounted on a claims. shaft 18, which is carried in suitable brackets 25 In the drawings, Figure 1 is a partial plan 19 20, projecting from the end-gate 11. The View of the rearend of awagon,i1lustrating my bracket 19 is placed near the end of the endimproved seeder. Fig. 2 is apartial end elevagate adjacent to the wheel 13, the bracket 20 tion of therear end of a wagon, illustrating being at or near the center of the end-gate, my improvements. Fig. 3 is avertical section as shown in Fig. 2. It follows that rotation 0 on line 3 3 of Fig. 4. Fig. at is an enlarged of the wagon wheel 13 effects a corresponding detail, certain parts being in section. Fig. 5 rotation of the shaft 18. The shaft, however, is a plan view of the distributing-fan. Fig. 6 rotates at a much higher rate of speed, owing is an under side view of one of the shutters to the fact that the pinion 1 7 is much smaller by which the area of the seed passages than the sprocket-wheel 15.

3 5 through which the seed passes from the feed- 21 indicates the hopper, which is supported wheel to the distributil'lg-fan is controlled. on suitable brackets 22 23, projecting from Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the spring-dog the end-gate, as shown in Fig. 2. by which the shutters are held in place. Fig. 24 indicates a feed-wheel shaft, one end of S is an enlarged detail illustrating the dewhich is mounted in a suitable bracket 25,

A0 vices for operating the clutch through which carried by the end-gate near the upper edge the seeding device is connected with the thereof and adjacent to one end. The other wagon-wheel, and Fig. 9 is an enlarged deend of the shaft 2t projects throughthe lower tail showing a modified construction of part part of the hopper 21 and is journaled in the of the driving devices for rotating the dishopper, as shown in Fig. 1. The shaft 2 45 tributing-fan. carries a sprocket-wheel 26, which is loosely 9 5 As is well understood by those familiar mounted thereupon, but is adapted to be with the art, machines of the character to connected therewith by means of a clutch 27, which my present invention relates are usuwhich is mounted on a feather 2% 011 the ally designed to be carried by the end-gate shaft 24, adjacent to the sprocket-wheel 2e,

50 of a wagon-bed, and consist of a hopper in and is adapted, when moved longitudinally Ice of the shaft 24, to engage laterally-projecting lugs 28, carried by said sprocket-wheel, as shown in Fig. 8, and consequently cause the sprocket-wheel 26 to rotate in unison with the shaft 24. The clutch 27 is provided with an annular groove 29,in which fits a cam 30, mounted on a crank-shaft 31, supported on the bracket adjacent to the shaft 24, as shown in Fig. 1. By rotating the shaft 31 the operator may move the clutch 27in either direction to engage or disengage the sprocketwheel 26 and throw the feed-wheel either into or out of operation.

32 indicates a link -belt connecting the sprocket-wool 26 with a sprocket-wheel 33, mounted on the shaft 18, as shown in Fig. 2. By this construction the shaft 24 is driven from the shaft 18 when it is desired to operate the feedqvheels.

34 35 indicate a pair of feed-wheels which are mounted upon the shaft 24 within the hopper 2], as shown in Figs. 1, 3, and 4. As best shown in Fig. 3, the shaft 24 lies slightly above the bottom 36 of the hopper, so that the feed-wheels 34 lie substantially half above and half below the bottom of the hopper. Said feed-wheels are provided in their peripheries with a series of pockets 37 to receive the seed. Said pockets are made of uniform size, so that the quantity of seed discharged from the hopper is always the same at any given rate of speed.

38 indicates a casing which is fitted to the under side of the bottom 36 of the hopper and partlyincloses the lower portions of the feedwheels 34 35, as best shown in Figs. 3 and 4-. The casing 38 is provided with passages 39 below each feed-wheel, through which passages the seed is discharged upon the distributing-fan 40, which is arranged below said passages, as shown. In order to prevent the seed from being discharged from any'given pocket 37 until sueh'pocket arrives at the corresponding opening 39, curved spring-plates 41 42 are provided, which are secured to the under side of the bottom of the hopper, as shown in Fig. 3, and extend down and partly around the feed-wheels, bearing against the peripheries thereof, as shown in Fig. 3. By this means the seed is retained in each of the pockets 37 until it arrives at the discharge-passage 39.

In machines of this character it is desirable to regulate the size of the passages 39, and to this end shutters 43 44 are provided, which extend under said passages 39, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, and bear against the under side of the casing 38. One end of each of the shutters 43 44 extends up at one side of the casing 38 and carries a finger-piece 45 above the bottom plate 36 of the hopper and at one side thereof, as shown in Fig. 3. The upper ends of the shutters 43 44 project through slots 46 47, which lie in vertical planes parallel with the shutters, as shown in Fig. 1. By this construction by means of the fingerpieees 45 the shutters 43 44 maybe moved so as to vary the extent to which they project below the passages 39, consequently varying the efficient area of said passages. In order to hold the shutters 43 44 properly in position, they are provided on their under surfaces with a series of transverse notches 48, as best shown in Figs. 3 and 6, which notches receive the upturned ends of a spring 49, which is secured, to the under side of the casing 38 and is provided with branching arms-5O 51, the upturned ends of which are adapted to engage the notches 48, as best shown in Fig. 4'. The arms 50 51 are made su'l'liciently elastic so that they suflice to retain the shutters normally in position, but do not prevent the adjustment of said shutters by the fingerpieces 45, as above described.

The distributing-fan 40 is mounted loosely upon the upper end of a vertical shaft 52, which is carried by the bracket 20, said shaft being suitably mounted at its lower end in a socket formed in an arm 53 of said bracket. 54 indicates a set-screw by which said shaft is secured in position.

As shown in Fig. 3, the distributing-fan 40 carries at its under side a pinion 55, which is preferably formed integral with the hub of said distributing-fan. Said pinion is adapted to be engaged by a drive-wheel 56, having a rack 57 on one side of the rim thereof, said rack being an annular rack. wheel 56 is in the form of a beveled gear and is adapted to mesh with the pinion 55 when moved into engagement therewith. The drive-wheel 56 is, however, free to move out of engagement with the pinion 55, since it is longitudinally movable upon the inner end of the shaft 18, upon which it is loosely mounted. The drive-wheel 56 is caused to rotate with the shaft 18 when it is desired to drive the distributingfan by means of a beveled or cam collar 57, which is mounted upon the shaft 18 adjacent to the. drive-wheel 56 and is keyed thereto. As best shown in Fig. 4, the collar 57 is provided on its face which lies next to the drive-wheel 56, with a projection 58, having an inclined face which is adapted to engage the opposing face of the hub 59 of the drive-wheel 56, which is also inclined, as shown in Fig. 4. By this construction when the shaft 18 rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 4, the beveled faces of the projection 58 and hub 59 being in engagement, the drivewheel 56 is caused to rotate with the collar 57 and shaft 18. At the same time the drive-wheel 56 is caused to move longitudinally .of the shaft 18 to the right, as shown in Fig. 4, by reason of the engagement of the two beveled surfaces described. Consequently the drive-wheel 56 is forced into engagement with the pinion 55 of the distributing-fan. It is to be understood,

wheel engages the pinion 55.

Said d rivement of the drive-wheel 56 with the pinion 55 consequently rotates said pinion and with it the distributing-fan; If the shaft 18 is stopped, the drive-wheel 50 at once automatically moves out of engagement with the pinion 55. Since the drive-wheel 56 is thereby released from the stress of the projection 58, the beveled surfaces of said projection and hub separate, and the drive-wheel is consequently permitted to move out of engagement with the pinion 55. The distributing-fan continues to rotate for a considerable time under its acquired momentum.

In Fig. 9 I have illustrated a modified construction for connecting the drive-wheel 56 with the shaft 18. In the construction shown in said figure a sleeve 60 is employed having one end beveled instead of provided with the projection 58. The hub 61 of the drive-wheel (shown in said figure) is similarly beveled. The beveled surfaces of the sleeve 60 and hub 61 are in engagement, so that when the shaft 18 rotates the drive-wheel 56 is also rotated and the drive-wheel 56 caused to move longi-' It will thus be seen that by the connecting mechanism described when poweris applied the drive-wheel at once moves into engagement with the pinion of the distributing-fan and retains such engagement as long as the application of power is continued, but automatically moves out of engagement with said pinion as soon as the application of power ceases. It will be evident, further, that with the construction shown in Figs. 2 and -L the wagon may be backed without rotating the fan, since reverse rotation of the shaft 18 does not cause the drive-wheel 56 to move into engagement with the pinion 55.

Instead of using a pinion 55 and drive-wheel 56 having teeth, said devices may be arranged to operate by friction, in which case a smooth pinion and drive-wheel would be employed.

The operation of my improved apparatus has already been described. The advantage of mounting the feed-wheel partly in and partly below the hopper-bottom is that the danger of choking is avoided, since the grain is not drawn into a funnel-shaped space in the hopper, as is the case where the feedwheel is mounted higher up in the hopper. Consequently with my improved construction the feed is uniform. By providing the cut-off springs extending downward around the feed-wheels there is no danger of grinding or otherwise injuring the seed.

I have described in detail the apparatus,

illustrated in the accompanying drawings; but it should be understood that my invention is not restricted to such details of construction except in so far as they are particularly claimed.

So far as I am aware no one has heretofore constructed a broadcast seeding device in.

torsion strain of the drive-shaft for holding the drive-wheels in operative contact. I secure. the ad vantages hereinbefore pointed out and also the further advantage that the drivewheel may yield or move back out of engagement with the distributing-fan pinion under extraordinary strain without stopping the drive-shaft, thereby avoiding the danger of breakage. My invention therefore includes such construction broadly.

That which I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a seeding device, the combination of a hopper, and a feed-wheel mounted in said hopper and adapted to rotate about a horizontal axis, said feed-wheel having seedpockets, the axis of said wheel lying above and near the hopper-bottom, whereby the greater part of the feed-wheel lies above the hopper-bottom.

2. In a seeding device, the combination of a hopper, a shaft extending through said hopper above and near the bottom thereof, and a feed-wheel mounted upon said shaft, the greater part of said feed-wheel lying above the bottom of said hopper, said feed-wheel having seed -pockets in its periphery, substantially as described.

3. In a seeding device, the combination of a hopper, a rotary feed-wheel adapted to rotate about a horizontal axis and having seedpockets in its periphery, and a downwardlyextending cutoif device adapted to bear against the periphery of said feed-wheel, substantially as described.

4. In a seeding device, the combination of a hopper, a rotary feed-wheel adapted to retate about a horizontal axis and having seedpockets in its periphery, and a downwardlyextending cutoff spring adapted to bear against the periphery of said feed-wheel, substantially as described.

5. In a seeding device, the combination of a hopper, a feed-wheel mounted in said hopper and adapted to rotate about a horizontal axis, said wheel projecting partly above and partly below the bottom of said hopper, a casing partly inclosing the lower portion of said feed-wheel, said casing having a seedpassage, and a curved spring secured at its upper end and extending down and partly around said feed-wheel, substantially as described.

6. In a seeding device, the combination of a hopper, a feed-wheel mounted in said hopper and adapted to rotate about a horizontal axis, said wheel projecting partly above and partly below the bottom of said hopper, a casing partly inclosing the lower portion of said feed-Wheel, said casing having a seed-passage, and curved springs arranged at opposite sides of said passage, said springs being secured at their upper ends and extending down and partly around said feed-wheel, substantially as described.

'7. I11 a seeding device, the combination of a hopper, a feed-wheel, feeding devices therein, a passage for the discharge of the seed, and a shutter for regulating the area of said passage, said shutter having a series of notches 48, and a spring 49 having an upturned arm adapted to engage said notches, substantially as described.

S. In a seeding device, the combination of a hopper, passages arranged side by side for the discharge of seed therefrom, feeding devices for delivering seed from said hopper, adjustable shutters 43, 44 below said passages, said shutters having notches 48, a spring 47 having arms 50, 51 adapted to engage said notches, and means for adjusting the position of said shutters, substantially as described.

9. In a broadcast seeding device, the combination of a rotary seed-distributer, a drivewheel, means operated by said drive-wheel for rotating said seed distributer, said drivewheel being movable into and out of operative said drive-wheel into operative position, substantially as described.

I]. In a broadcast seeder, the combination of a rotary seed-distributer, a drive-wheel, means operated by said (I rive-Wheel for rotating said seed-distributer, a drive-shaft, said drive Wheel being movable longitudinally upon said shaft into and out of operative position, and means operated by the rotation of said shaft for moving said drive-wheel into operative position, substantially as described.

12. In a broadcast seeder, the combination of a rotary seed-distributer, a drive-wheel movable into and out of position to operate said seeddistributer, a drive shaft upon which said drive-wheel is mounted, and iiiclined bearing devices between said driveshaft and drive-Wheel for moving said drive- Wheel into operative positionwhen the shaft rotates, substantially as described.

13. In a broadcast seeder, the combination of a rotary seed distributer, a drive wheel movable into and out of position to operate said seed-distributer, a drive-shaft on which said drive-wheel is mounted and upon which it is movable longitudinally, an inclined bearing carried by said shaft and fixedly secured thereto, and an inclined bearing carried by said drive-wheel, adapted to be engaged by said first-m entioned bearing, for moving said drive-Wheel into operative position when the shaft rotates, substantially as described.

14. In a broadcast seeder, the combination of a rotary seed-distributer, a pinion connected therewith, a drive-wheel adapted to engage said pinion, for rotating said seed-distributer, said drive-Wheel being movable into and out of engagement with said pinion, a drive-shaft upon which said drive-wheel is mounted, said drive Wheel being longitudinally movable upon said drive-shaft, and means carried by said shaft for moving said drive-wheel into engagement With said pinion when the shaft rotates, substantially as described.

CHRISTIAN N. E. GRAY. Witnesses: v

J. FRANK DAVIS, EDWARD A. WALTZ. 

